stauffer



Max-ch31, 1964 F; s. STA'UFFER 3,126,799

BINARY ADDER MATRIX POSITIONER Filed June 29, 1962 2 S'neetsShe'et 1 1 INVENTOR. FRED S. STAUFF' ER HIS ATTORNEYS.

March 31, 1964 F. s. STAUFFER BINARY ADDER MATRIX POSITIONER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 29, 1962 INVENTOR. FRED s. STAUFFER B Y HIS ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent 3,126,795) BINARY ADDER MATRIX POSITIONER Fred S. Stautfer, Saratcga, Calih, assignor to International Business Machines Corporation, New York, N.Y., a corperation of New York Filed June 22, 1962, Ser. No. 206,269 12 Claims. (Cl. 95-45) The present invention relates to a mechanism for positioning a matrix, and pertains more particularly to such a positioner which is capable of operation by binary electrical impulses to produce an analog position output.

In recent years it has become increasingly common to employ photographic data storage in conjunction with the random access files of some forms of computers. Such stored data has many potential uses, for example, in initiating and posting entries to accounts in a retail charge account or other system, where hard i.e. printed copies of the stored data are required.

Such photographic data storage mechanism are not broadly new, but a diificulty frequently experienced with them in the past has been in attaining a proper alignment of successive letters or characters in the printed record. Although slight deviations in the lateral spacing of characters in a printed line thereof is scarcely noticeable to the average reader, any vertical misalignment of such characters is immediately apparent.

The present invention provides an improved mechanism for positioning selected individual characters of an array thereof on a character matrix in a position of registry with an optical axis.

The invention also provides improved mechanism for positioning a matrix by selective movement thereof about each of the pivots, one of said pivots being limited to movement along a linear path.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved mechanism for positioning a character matrix by selective, incremental movement of such matrix about two pivots located exteriorly of the matrix, one of the pivots being anchored for movement along an are having a radius equal to the distance between the two pivots.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved mechanism for positioning a matrix by employing an input of selective binary impulses to produce an analog position output.

The foregoing, and other objects, features and advantages of the invention, will be apparent from the following more particular description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a rear elevational View of a mechanism embodying the invention, a rear frame plate being removed.

FIG. 2 is an exploded, somewhat diagrammatic view of the mechanism shown in FIG. 1, a light beam projector and photosensitive film strip being included.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, elevational View of an example of a character matrix mask as shown in FIG. 2.

FIGS. 410 (primary numbers) are diagrammatic views showing one of the two matrix positioning linkages in each of its operated conditions.

FIGS. 5a-10a (sufiix a) show graphically the incremental position of each pivot point of the linkage in the correspondingly numbered diagram adjacent thereto.

' Briefly, an illustrative embodiment A of the invention comprises a character matrix mask 11 mounted in a triangular matrix mask support 12. The latter is pivotally mounted, at B and C, on two similar, but relatively reversed, sets of linkage l3 and 14. Each of the linkage sets 13 and 14 is selectively actuated by three solenoids, the linkage 13, on the left in FIGS. 1 and 2, being actuated by solenoids 1'7, 18 and 19, while that on the right is actuated by reversely arranged, but otherwise similar solenoids 17', 18 and 19'. Selective energization of these solenoids actuates their respective linkages to swing the mask support 12 in selected increments about its respective pivots B and C. A seventh solenoid 20 controls the actuation of an optical shutter 30. The solenoids may be selectively energized by binary electrical impulses from suitable switch means, such as individual manual switches 21 (FIG. 2) or conventional data processing mechanism, not shown.

As illustrated, each of the linkage sets 13 and 14 is capable of selectively moving its respective mask support pivot B or C, as the case may be, from a central, or unactuated position, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, either upwardly or downwardly one, two or three increments, as required, thus providing a potential of seven incremental positions for each of the mask support pivots B and C.

A light beam has its optical axis 22 directed at a central character 23 of the mask 11 when the latter is in its normal or unactuated condition. By moving the mask support 12 through all seven of its incremental positions about each of the pivots B and C, in each of their seven incremental positions, two sets of arcuate lines 24 and 25 are described on the mask 11 by the optical axis 22. One optically distinct character (FIG. 3) is provided on the mask 11 at each intersection of the two sets of arcuate lines 24 and 25. Since there are seven arcuate lines in each of the sets 24 and 25 thereof, there will, therefore, be forty-nine points of intersection of these lines, and hence forty-nine characters.

The left hand mask support pivot B (FIGS. 2, 5-10 and Sci-10a) is anchored at 26 (FIGS. 2 and 4) by an arm 27 to a fixed frame plate 28 to limit movement of the left hand mask support pivot B to an arcuate path 29. The effective length of the anchor arm 27, and hence the radius of the arcuate path 29, is equal to the distance between the axes of the two mask support pivots B and C.

With the mask 11 positioned by selective energization of the link actuating solenoids to center a required character on the optical axis 22, the shutter 34 is then opened to project such character onto a photo-sensitive film strip 31, after which the shutter is closed. The film strip and optical axis are then moved laterally relative to each other to position an unexposed area of film on the optical axis, and the process is repeated as required to expose a desired line of characters on the film strip. The film strip is then developed in a usual manner.

Referring to the drawings in greater detail, the illustrative mechanism A comprises the front frame plate 28 of suitable material, such as aluminum, with an angle bracket 32 secured to the rear side thereof. A plurality of solenoid coil support members 33 (FIGS. 1 and 2) are mounted in individually adjusted positions on the rear side of the bracket 32, and a coil 34 of each of the solenoids is mounted on a rubber grommet 35 and is se cured by a screw 37 to each of these brackets. The resilient loading provided by the rubber grommets 35 permits any slight lateral tilting of the solenoids which may be required by arcuate movement of the linkages 13 and 14 or a shutter lever 38 to which they are connected. Each solenoid coil 34 is constructed to have its armature 39 bottom therein to limit downward movement of the armature upon energization of the coil.

The armature 39 of each of the solenoids rides freely, and with slight lateral clearance, in a threaded spring cup 40, which is screwed to axially adjusted position into a threaded hole 41 provided therefor in the angle bracket 32. The clearance between each armature 39 and its spring cup 40 is provided to permit any slight tilting of the solenoid which may be required.

A stop pin 42 through each armature 39 engages its respective spring cup 40 to limit upward movement of the armature under the biasing effect of a coil spring 43. The latter is held in compression between each spring cup 40 and a collar'44 on its associated solenoid armature 39. Threaded adjustment of each spring cup 40 controls the upward limit of movement of its armature 39, While adjustment of each coil support member 33 in the direction of armature movement controls its downward limit of movement.

The upper end of the armature 39 of each linkage actuating solenoid is pivotally connected to its associated linkage, as best shown in FIG. 2, while the armature of the single shutter actuating solenoid 20 is pivotally connected to the lever 38 upon which the shutter 30 is mounted. Although the illustrated shutter 30 is of a well known, slow speed type, a high speed shutter, or flash or spark technique, all well known in the art of high speed photography, may be substituted therefor if required.

A rear frame plate, not shown, but generally similar to, the front plate 28, may be secured to the rear side of the angle bracket 32 of FIG. 1, which is provided with threaded screw holes 45 for this purpose.

The illustrated matrix mask support 12 is in the form of an isosceles triangle, with the character matrix mask 11 in the form of a disk mounted in an opening 47 provided therefor near the apex thereof. The illustrated characters (FIG. 3) on the matrix mask 11 are transparent openings in an otherwise opaque disk. These transparent character openings may be formed photographically in an opaque emulsion coating, such as silver halide, on a disk of transparent material, such as plastic, glass or quartz, or they may be punched, cut or etched in a disk of sheet metal or other suitable opaque material. When an ultra-violet light beam is to be employed for projecting the characters, it is preferred to employ a mask 11 wherein the characters are fully open and free of any transparent material so as to avoid possible diffusion of the light rays.

The use of ultra-violet light is required when using Kalfax film, which is the commercial designation of a well known type of photo-sensitive film employing an ultraviolet sensitive diazo carrier in a polymer emulsion coated on a Mylar film base. The use of Kalfax film is desirable in an automated photo-printing mechanism such as that of the present invention, because the exposed Kalfax image can be developed simply by heating the film to a temperature of 240 for a required time interval.

A light beam may be projected along the optical axis 22 by a projector 48 comprising a suitable light source 49, and a conventional lens system 50. The optical axis 22 is centered on the central character 23 of the matrix thereof on the mask 11 when the latter is in its normal or unactuated condition as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, and is directed toward the film strip 31, which is positioned a required distance therebeyond.

Suitable means (not shown) may be provided for traversing the film strip 31 relative to the optical axis 22, so that successive characters projected onto the film will form a line of exposed characters thereon. Since mechanism for providing such relative traversing movement are well known, and will vary with the requirements of individual systems and mechanisms in which the invention is embodied, and since such mechanism, per se, forms no part of the present invention, it is omitted from the present description.

Two two sets of matrix positioning linkage 13 and 14, are alike, both in structure and operation, with the exception that the right hand linkage 14 is reversed relative to the left hand one. The corresponding parts of the two linkages 13 and 14 are, therefore, except for the mask support pivots B and C, designated by the same reference numerals, with the exception that those of the right hand linkage 14 have the prime added thereto. Since the two sets of linkage 13 and 14 are alike, the structure and opera- 4 tion of only the left hand linkage 13 is described in detail herein.

The latter linkage comprises two links 51 and 52 of equal length. The left hand'end of the forward link 51 is, as mentioned previously herein, pivotally connected coaxially to the left hand mask support pivot B, which is mounted on the free end of the anchor arm 27. The forward link 51 is also pivotally connected at D, medially of its length, to the right hand end of the rearward link 52 (FIGS. 1 and 2), while the right hand end of the forward link 51 is pivotally connected at E to the armature of the solenoid 19.

The center of the rearward link 52 is pivotally connected at F 'to the armature of the solenoid 18, and the left hand end of the rearward link 52 is pivotally connected to G to the armature of the solenoid 17.

The end solenoids 17 and 19 are so adjusted, that upon actuation thereof they draw their respective armatures down one full increment, while the central solenoid 18 is adjusted to draw its armature down only three fourths of such increment. An incremen as used herein is the distance required to move one of the mask support pivots B or C, by means of its respective linkage 51 or 52, sufficiently to move the matrix mask 11 the distance from center to center of adjacent characters along one of the arcuate lines of the two sets 24 and 25 thereof.

The various actuated conditions of the left hand linkage 13 required to move the left hand mask support pivot B upwardly or downwardly throughout its entire range of seven increments is shown diagrammatically in the primary numbered FIGS. 4-10, while the relative incremental positionsof'the linkage pivots in the associated primary numbered FIGS. 5-10 is shown in the small graphs FIGS. 5a-10a respectively adjacent thereto.

Referring now to the actuation of the left hand linkage 13 as shown in FIGS. 4-10 and Sal-10a; in FIG. 4 none of the linkage actuating solenoids 17, 18 or 19 is energized, and the springs 43 of these solenoids retain their respective armatures 39 in their unactuated, raised, ad-

justed positions. In this unactuated condition of the solenoids, and of the linkage 13 to which they are connected, all four of the linkage pivots D, E, F and G, as Well as the axes of the two matrix support pivots B and C, and of the anchor pivot 26 of the arm 27 define a common or base plane, which is represented by the line H in FIGS. 4-10 and 5a-10a. Also, in this unactuated condition of the solenoids, the linkage 13 centers on the optical axis 22 the central charcter 23 of the matrix mask 11 of FIG. 3.

In FIGS. 5 and 5a the solenoids 17 and 18 are actuated, while the solenoid 19 remains unactuated. This actuation of the solenoids 17 and 18 lowers the pivot G connected to the solenoid 17 one increment (its limit of movement) and the pivot F'connected to the solenoid 18 three fourths of one increment (its limit of movement) from the base plane H. This movement of the pivots G and F swings the rearward link 52 to the position thereof illustrated in FIG. 5, to thereby lower 1 the pivot F on the right hand end of link 52 one half increment from the base plane H. Since the pivot E at the right hand end of the forward link 51 is retained on the base plane H by its unactuated solenoid 19, this lowering of its medial pivot D swings the forward link 51 to lower the left hand end thereof with the mask support pivot B therein one increment, and thereby swings the matrix mask 11 downwardly about the right hand mask support pivot C along the arcuate center line 25a to center the character 53 of FIG. 3 on the optical axis 22.

In FIGS. 6 and 6a the solenoids 18 and 19 are actuated, while the first solenoid 17 remains in its normal, unactuated position. Actuation of the solenoid 18 lowers the pivot F centrally of the rearward link 52 three fourths of an increment, which lowers the pivot D on the right hand end of this link 52, and the center of the forward link 51, one and one-half increments. Since the pivot B two increments, and thereby swings the mask 11 downwardly about its right hand pivot C along the arcuate center line 25a to center the character 54 of FIG. 3 on the optical axis 22.

In FIGS. 7 and 7a only the second solenoid 18 is actuated, which lowers the pivot F three fourths of an increment, and thereby lowers the pivot D at the right hand end of the rearward link 52 one and one-half increments. This pivot D, being also at the center of the forward link 51, swings the mask support pivot B down three increments, thereby to center the character 55 of FIG. 3 on the optical axis 22.

FIGS. 8, 9 and 10, and their corresponding position graphs FIGS. 8a, 9a and 100:, show the required actuation of the solenoids 17, 18 and 19 for movement of the mask support 12 in one, two or three increments, respectively, in the opposite, or upward, rotative direction about the same right hand pivot C. From the foregoing detailed description of FIGS. 4-10 and Sal-10a it will be obvious that such incremental movement of the mask support 12 as shown in FIGS. 8-10 and 8a-l0a, will center the respective characters 57, 58 and 59 of FIG. 3 on the optical axis 22.

By operating the right hand linkage 14 in a manner corresponding to that illustrated in FIGS. 4-10 and aa, and described previously herein, any of the set 24 of arcuate lines concentric with the right hand pivot C can be brought into register with the optical axis 22. Thus, by selectively actuating the linkages 13 and 14, either alone, or simultaneously, any selected intersection of the two sets of lines 24 and 25, and the character centered thereon, can be centered on the optical axis 22.

The operation of the illustrated form of the invention is as follows:

A film strip 31 is positioned relative to the optical axis 22 to receive the first of a line of characters to be projected thereon. The shutter 30 is closed, and the linkage actuating solenoids 17, 18 and 19, and 17', 18' and 19', and the shutter actuating solenoid 20, are connected, by suitable circuitry, such as individual electrical circuits 60 (FIG. 2) to receive selective operating electrical impulses. The light source 49 is energized to project a suitable light beam along the optical axis 22 centrally of a central character 23 of an array thereof on the matrix mask 11.

Electrical impulses are then transmitted, by suitable binary switching means, such as individual switches 21, to selectively actuate either or both sets of linkages 13 and 14, as explained previously herein, to any selected one of the seven potential positions thereof (FIGS. 4l0, and 5al 0a), thereby to center on the optical axis 22 a character located at any of the forty nine intersections of the two sets of lines 24 and 25. With a thus selected character centered on the optical axis 22, the shutter 30 is opened by energizing its solenoid 20 for a sufficient interval of time to expose such character on the film strip 311. The film strip 31 is then moved to bring a required fresh, unexposed portion thereof into alignment with the optical axis 22 and successive selective characters are similarly positioned and projected onto the film strip 31 as required. After a line or lines of thus selected characters have been projected onto the film strip 31, the latter is processed in a usual manner to develop the exposed characters thereon.

Since the two sets of arcuate lines 24 and 25 are disposed substantially diagonally relative to a line along which successive characters are to be projected, i.e. a line parallel to the base plane H, any slight error in positioning one or more of the characters will be along one or the other of such arcuate lines, and will, therefore, be divided between a vertical displacement at right angles to such line, and a lateral displacement lengthwise thereof. Since, as mentioned previously herein, and is well known,

a slight displacement of a character lengthwise of the line is scarcely noticeable, and since a reduction of vertical misalignment is very much to be desired, this halving of any such displacement errors between vertical and lateral is very desirable.

The invention provides a simple adn effective matrix positioning mechanism for use in the projection printing of characters and messages on film strips or other photosensitive material, and one in which different matrices may be easily substituted, one for another, as required.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Matrix positioning mechanism comprising:

(a) a matrix,

(b) two sets of arcuate lines described thereon,

(c) the lines of each set thereof being concentric,

(d) radially spaced apart, and

(e) intersecting the lines of the other set thereof,

( a matrix element located at each intersection of said lines,

(g) a support for the matrix,

(h) a pivot on the matrix support located concentrically of each set of lines,

. (i) a fixed work axis directed transversely of the matrix and through a matrix element at the intersection of two of said arcuate lines, and

(j) means for moving each of the matrix support pivots in selected increments,

thereby to position matrix elements located at selected intersections of such arcuate lines on such work axis.

2. Matrix positioning mechanism comprising:

(a) a character matrix,

(b) two sets of arcuate lines described thereon,

(c) the lines of each set thereof being concentric,

(d) radially spaced apart, and

(e) intersecting the lines of the other set thereof,

( an optically distinct character located at each intersection of said lines,

(g) a support for the matrix,

(h) a pivot on the matrix support located concentrically of each set of lines,

(1') means for projecting a light beam through the matrix with the optical axis of the light beam directed at a character located at the intersection of a selected two of said arcuate lines, and toward a photo-sensitive medium therebeyond, and

(j) means for moving each of the matrix support pivots in successive, selected increments, thereby successively to position matrix characters located at each of a plurality of selected intersections of such arcuate lines on such optical axis.

3. Matrix positioning mechanism comprising:

(a) amatrix,

(b) two sets of diagonally intersecting, arcuate lines on the matrix, the lines of each such set being coaxial,

(c) a matrix element at each intersection of said lines,

(d) a fixed axis intersecting a selected one of the matrix elements in one position of the matrix,

(e) a matrix support supporting the matrix,

(7) a pivot on the matrix support located co-axially of each set of arcuate lines,

(g) linkage operatively connected to each pivot,

( h) a plurality of solenoids connected to each linkage,

(i) each solenoid being movable a determined distance upon actuation thereof,

(i) binary switching means for selective actuation of the solenoids,

(k) each linkage being constructed to move the matrix support pivot to which it is connected a selected numaraavsa 7 ber of increments upon actuation of selected ones of the solenoids,

(I) each such increment being the distance required to move the matrix relative to such fixed axis the distance between successive intersections along such arcuate lines.

4. An arrangement according to claim 3 wherein:

(a) each linkage comprises two links (b) one end of one link pivotally connected to the midpoint of the other,

(c) one end of the other link pivoted on one of the matrix support pivots,

(d) a first solenoid operably connected to the other end of said one link (e) a second solenoid connected to the mid-point of said one link (f) a third solenoid operably connected to the other end of said other link, 7

(g) the first and third solenoids having an effective travel of one increment upon actuation thereof (h) the second solenoid having an effective travel of three fourths of an increment upon actuation thereof.

5. In a matrix positioning mechanism:

(a) amatrix,

(b) two movable pivots spaced apart and located exteriorly of, and laterally beyond the matrix,

(c) means operatively interconnecting both of the pivots to each other and to the matrix for movement as a unit,

(d) means for moving each of the pivots separately in successive increments about the axis of the other of said pivots, with the other pivot retained in each of a plurality of incrementally separated positions, thereby to move the matrix to describe two sets of arcuate lines thereon relative to a fixed axis intersecting the matrix,

(e) the lines of one set thereof intersecting the lines of the other,

(1) a plurality of matrix elements on the matrix,

(g) each of said matrix elements being located at the intersection of two of such arcuate lines,

(11) and means guiding one of the pivots for movement along a linear path.

6. In a matrix positioning mechanism:

(a) a matrix,

(b) two movable pivots spaced apart and located exteriorly of, and laterally beyond the matrix,

() means operatively interconnecting both of the pivots to each other and to the matrix for movement as a unit, I

(d) means for moving each of the pivots separately in successive increments about the axis of the other of said pivots with the other pivot retained in each of a plurality of incrementally separated positions, thereby to move the matrix to describe two sets of arcuate I (g) each of said matrix elements being located at the intersection of two of such arcuate lines. 1 7. An arrangement according to claim 6 wherein the means operatively interconnecting the pivots and the ma trix is a member in the form of an isosceles triangle, the matrix is mounted in an opening near the apex of such triangle, and the two pivots are located'one adjacent each base angle of such triangle.

8. Matrix positioning mechanism comprising: (a) a matrix support, (b) a pair of axially parallel pivots in laterally separated relation on the matrix support, (c) a matrix mounted on the support in offset relation to a plane defined by the axes of said pivots,

- (d) means for moving each of the pivots in successive increments within a limited range about the axis of the other of said pivots while retaining such other pivot in each of a succession of positions spaced apart by such increments, thereby to describe two intersecting sets of arcuate lines on the matrix relative to a fixed point, the lines of each set thereof being spaced apart by equal distances proportional to such increments,

(e) a plurality of optically distinct characters on the matrix,

(1) one of said characters being located at each intersection of such arcuate lines,

(g) means for projecting a light beam with the optical axis thereof directed at the character located at the intersection of a central two such arcuate lines with each of the pivots in a position medially of its range of incremental movement,

(h) and with such beam directed toward a sheet of photo-sensitive material beyond the matrix for exposing thereon the projected image of such located character,

whereby, upon successive, selected, incremental movements of said pivots, successive, selected characters of the matrix are similarly located on such optical axis for projection.

9. An arrangement according to claim 8 wherein one of the matrix support pivots is limited to linear movement.

lOJ'An arrangement according to claim 8 wherein one of the pivots of the matrix support is located on the free end of an anchor arm having an eifective length equal to the separation between the axes of the matrix support pivots, and the other end of said arm is pivoted on a fixed pivot.

11. An arrangement according to claim 10 wherein the fixed pivot of the anchor arm is co-axial with the other pivot of the matrix support with each of the matrix support pivots in a position medially of its range of incremental movement.

12. Matrix positioning mechanism comprising:

(a) a matrix support,

(b) a pair of pivots in laterally separated relation on the matrix support,

(0) the. axes of said pivots being parallel,

(d) a character matrix carried by the matrix support,

(e) said matrix being spaced from the plane defined by the axes of said pivots and located medially there between,

(f) linkage connected to each of said pivots for incremental movement of said each pivot about the other as an axis,

(g) a plurality of optically distinct characters centered at selected, uniformly spaced points on the matrix,

(h) a plurality of linkage actuating elements operatively connected to each linkage at separate, spaced intervals,

(i) binary means for selectively actuating said linkage actuating elements in increments proportional to the center-to-center spacing of adjacent characters on the matrix, such increments being of a size to selectively move the linkages to which the linkage actuating elements are connected to center at a fixed point successive, selected ones of said characters, and

(j) means for projecting a light beam with its optical axis directed through such fixed point toward a photosensitive medium positioned beyond the matrix, thereby to project an image of each successive character centered at such fixed point onto such photo-sensitive medium. a

No references cited. 

1. MATRIX POSITIONING MECHANISM COMPRISING: (A) A MATRIX, (B) TWO SETS OF ARCUATE LINES DESCRIBED THEREON, (C) THE LINES OF EACH SET THEREOF BEING CONCENTRIC, (D) RADIALLY SPACED APART, AND (E) INTERSECTING THE LINES OF THE OTHER SET THEREOF, (F) A MATRIX ELEMENT LOCATED AT EACH INTERSECTION OF SAID LINES, (G) A SUPPORT FOR THE MATRIX, (H) A PIVOT ON THE MATRIX SUPPORT LOCATED CONCENTRICALLY OF EACH SET OF LINES, (I) A FIXED WORK AXIS DIRECTED TRANSVERSELY OF THE MATRIX AND THROUGH A MATRIX ELEMENT AT THE INTERSECTION OF TWO OF SAID ARCUATE LINES, AND 